Cumin prices & market intelligence
With international demand surging, cumin has become an essential spice not just in food, but also in pharmaceutical and wellness sectors. Renowned for its signature earthy flavor and aroma, cumin is vital to global supply chains – yet pricing and availability can be volatile. Today, market participants are increasingly focused on not only cumin prices, but also the sustainability and traceability of their supply.
Expana – trusted source for cumin market intelligence
Expana brings you real-time cumin price benchmarking and market intelligence, spanning all major production and trading hubs—including India, Syria, Egypt, and Iran. Our regional price series in India, the global leader producing about 70–75% of the world’s cumin, sit alongside timely analytics from other leading exporters.
With Expana, you can seamlessly incorporate cumin price trends into your cost models and accurately manage your cost base in the face of rapid global market shifts.
Expana offers:
- 11 leading cumin price series
- in-depth editorial coverage, industry insights, and trend commentary
- historical price data, analytical tools, and cost modeling for full supply chain visibility
Looking for full insights on the cumin market? Get a demo today.
Unbiased and independent insights and analysis for the cumin industry
Trusted data and insights, backed by experts
With Expana, you can trust that our data has been thoroughly vetted by top market analysts to ensure it is both accurate and reliable.
How we assess cumin prices
Expana’s cumin price assessments are built on transparent, consistent methodologies:
- Data Verification & Normalization: Ensuring accuracy and comparability across origins and product types.
- Expert Review: All prices are subject to knowledgeable internal review, backed by real-time observations from key markets.
- Actionable Context: Beyond prices, our market intelligence includes analysis of trade flows, weather impact, and regulatory changes that drive pricing.
Use cases
Sam Pearl
Former Senior Buying Manager, Tesco
Efficiency
Save time and improve productivity with our actionable insights.
Cost control
Navigate market challenges and maximize long-term success.
Profitability
Utilize our data, market fundamentals, and forecasting expertise to gain a financial edge.
Risk mitigation
Manage risks proactively and minimize your exposure to price fluctuations.
Essential intelligence for industry professionals
Expana delivers essential intelligence to industry professionals across the cumin industry, ensuring business leaders stay informed about the latest prices and industry trends, enabling them to effectively navigate disruptions, manage prices, and deliver value to their customers.
Cumin Market FAQs
Several factors have an outsized impact on cumin pricing:
Weather Conditions:
Cumin thrives in warm, dry climates with minimal rainfall. A prolonged spell of cold or wet weather—especially at harvest—can significantly reduce both the quantity and quality of cumin. Wet periods at harvest time also heighten the risk of fungal diseases, resulting in greater crop losses and potential quality downgrades.
Crop Competition & Farmer Response:
Farmers routinely make planting decisions based on comparative crop returns. If cash crops such as cotton, fennel, or coriander offer better revenues than cumin, producers switch acreage, sharply contracting cumin supply for the season. Conversely, when cumin prices rise, acreage expands. These rapid crop shifts can lead to considerable year-to-year volatility in both output and price.
Labour Costs:
Cumin is a manually harvested crop, making it highly sensitive to changes in national minimum wages. As wage rates increase, so does the cost of cumin production, leading to long-term price pressures—especially in major producing regions like India.
Export and Policy Influences:
Regulatory changes such as export bans, duties, or incentives—especially in India and Turkey—can tighten (or suddenly loosen) global supply, leading to rapid price adjustment.
- Spice and flavour enhancement in model cuisines worldwide.
- Traditional medicine and natural health supplements.
- Cosmetic and personal care applications.
- Herbal remedies and functional foods.
India dominates global production, accounting for over 70% of output (950,000 MT in 2023), with Gujarat and Rajasthan as the powerhouse states. Other significant suppliers include Syria, Turkey, and Iran, though their output is more variable due to ongoing regional instability.
- Severe Price Fluctuations: Weather shocks, crop switching, and government policies can drive pronounced swings in pricing and supply.
- Adulteration Risks: Maintaining clean, high-purity cumin is critical given risks of contamination—an ongoing concern for importers.
- Quality Standards: Differing oil content and color specs across origins present import and blending challenges.
- Manual Harvest Dependency: Labour availability, costs, and regulatory changes have direct impacts on production outcomes.